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This year’s awards night will be held on 18th May 2017 at the Bowers & Pitsea Football Club, Crown Avenue, Pitsea SS13 2BE from 6pm. All of our finalists and sponsors will be there, cheered on and supported by family and friends. Some mini-quiz rounds will be held between the awards to bring a fun element to the night! Have you got what it takes to win a prize? #Apprenticeships #Post16 #Essex

Introducing our 2017 Finalists:

Social Media Apprentice of the Year

Luke Dove

Brandon Messer

Kirsty Walker

CompTIA Learner of the Year

Billy Brown

Michael Deeley, CompTIA learner of the year 2016

Daniel Cossington

Robin Himbury

Luke Robinson

Employer of the Year

ATL Haulage Contractors

Gilbarco Veeder-Root

Iceberg Building Services

Muston Limited

Southend Borough Council

Line Manager of the Year

Michaela Baker – Southend Borough Council

Richard Bowles – Gable Hall School

Audrey Clarke – Brentwood Community Print

Andrew Jackson – Alan Blunden & Co.

Jack Pearce – Globalnet IT Innovations

Vanessa Thompson – Musto Limited

ITEC Learner of the Year

George Murphy – Study Programme

Suzanne McCrindle – Flex-ITEC programme

Shay Puxley – Flex-ITEC programme

Jadie Parry – Flex-ITEC programme

IT Apprentice of the Year

Daniel Cossington

Edward Daniels

Michael Deeley

Daniel Fisk

Shannon Wayland, ‘Malcolm Bridges’ Award winner 2016

Matthew Hall

Douglas Martin

Liam Parkins

‘Malcolm Bridges’ Award

Joshua Barwick

Holly Cossington

Jemma Dawson

Callum Massey

Cara White

But whose name will be on each trophy? Come along and join us to find out!

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5 minutes with Tarnya Till who completed a Level 3 Social Media and Digital Marketing Apprenticeship at Billericay IT Solutions with ITEC Learning Technologies between May 2014 and November 2015

Your Apprenticeship Job Title was:- Digital Marketing Assistant

Tarnya and her sister, Kymbly, were ITEC’s first Joint Apprentice of the Year winners in 2016

Your Job Title now:- Junior on-line Shop Administrator

What has been the best thing about completing an apprenticeship?

The opportunity to put in place the theory learned and taught during an apprenticeship. This opportunity gave me a greater understanding of how to apply aspects of the framework to real working life, and develop skills and knowledge around adapting digital marketing tools and techniques to real situations.

How do you think an apprenticeship has benefited your career?

The apprenticeship has benefited my career by supplying a deeper understanding of digital

marketing, and how social media platforms can be used to support and provide businesses with effective marketing campaigns. Through completing my apprenticeship I have also gained a huge amount of confidence in my working ability, although this doesn’t directly benefit my career; instead, it has resulted in me becoming more driven to succeed and become the best I can be.

Would you recommend this route? If yes, why?

I would recommend an apprenticeship as an excellent way to begin your career. After leaving education I had no work experience in IT. An apprenticeship allowed me to begin my career with an employer who invested their time in me and also sent me on relevant training courses. When my apprenticeship ended I was offered a job and my career has continued to progress. I would like to thank ITEC for providing support during and after my apprenticeship – a team of truly lovely people! Thanks for everything!

Tarnya (left) receives her Apprentice of the Year Award 2016 from her Tutor, Kerry (centre). Her sister, Kymbly (right), was a joint winner. Kerry said “although their work is very different, they both work to the same exacting standards and I couldn’t separate them”

Could this be you? If you want more information on completing an Apprenticeship with ITEC Learning Technologies speak to Toni on 01268 286929 – toni@iteclt.co.uk

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5 minutes with Caius Ajiz who completed a Level 3 IT Professional Apprenticeship at Chelmsford City Council with ITEC Learning Technologies between February 2013 and November 2014

Your Apprenticeship Job Title was:- ICT Apprentice

Caius was ITEC’s Advanced Apprentice of the Year 2014

Your Job Title now:- Technical Analyst

What has been the best thing about completing an apprenticeship?

Learning as I go and on-the-job in a ‘live’ environment. Doing this allowed me to see how a typical enterprise was set up and how a workplace (more specifically an office space) works with the people and inter-personal skills. Work experience is something that must be experienced to fully appreciate how to conduct oneself in an office. Progressing and building my skills to a high level, mainly because of the people I was working with. My colleagues are all very good at their jobs, being able to have them show me how systems work, with them explaining as we went allowed me to gain well-rounded knowledge.

How do you think an apprenticeship has benefited your career?

An apprenticeship has set me up with a good employer. One that seems to genuinely care about its staff and makes sure that they continue to learn and progress as people. It has given me experience of the work place and how people interact. It has given me the necessary qualifications to make it into an infrastructure level position. My position gives me access to enterprise level hardware and software, and allows me to exercise my knowledge every day.

Would you recommend this route? If yes, why?

An apprenticeship is an excellent path to take for someone who is highly driven, willing to learn and adaptable. People who possess these qualities do extremely well in apprenticeships and make excellent technicians.

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5 minutes with Stacey Hall who completed a Level 2 and Level 3 IT Professional Apprenticeship at The Gateway Academy with ITEC Learning Technologies between June 2010 and March 2013

#NAW2017 #Apprenticeships #Essex

Your Apprenticeship Job Title was:- ICT Apprentice

Stacey Hall, ITEC’s 2011 IT Apprentice of the Year

Your Job Title now:- Senior IT Support Technician

What has been the best thing about completing an apprenticeship?

Knowing that all the work I put into my apprenticeship, both theoretical and practical, has got me where I am today. The support and teaching from my tutors at ITEC were great, but I know that without my own hard work, I wouldn’t have the multiple professional qualifications I have now. Although I work in the same place I did at the time of my apprenticeship (by choice), I have moved up and been promoted twice.

How do you think an apprenticeship has benefited your career?

My apprenticeship has benefited me from the beginning by allowing me to make my own choices and gave me personal, social and professional skills. My confidence would not be where it is today without being in a working environment from the start or without ITEC and the support given. I am working in a predominantly male-orientated environment but I have been encouraged and supported all the way by both my employer and ITEC. I am still proud of my ITEC ‘IT Apprentice of the Year’ award from 2011.

Would you recommend this route? If yes, why?

Yes. I was able to study and work in the field of my choice. Along with theoretical studies from my tutors at ITEC, my practical studies at work really opened my eyes about the career I was stepping into. I knew that, unlike University, if my apprenticeship wasn’t working out or it wasn’t what I thought it would be, I could change paths or end the course and not be left with a huge debt or the obligatory feeling that I needed to continue. I’m glad to say, I never had these thoughts as the process of getting me onto the course was well executed and suited to me, ITEC gave me reassurance that everything was in my hands.

Stacey with her Mum receiving her ITEC IT Apprentice of the Year Award 2011

Could this be you? If you want more information on completing an Apprenticeship with ITEC Learning Technologies speak to Toni on 01268 286929 – toni@iteclt.co.uk

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5 minutes with George Donovan who completed a Level 2 and Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship at Gilbarco Veeder-Root, Basildon, with ITEC Learning Technologies between June 2014 and July 2016

#Apprenticeships #NAW2017 #Essex

Your Apprenticeship Job Title was:- HSE Administrator

George receiving his ‘Malcolm Bridges’ Award in June 2015

Your Job Title now:- Health & Safety Co-Coordinator

What has been the best thing about completing an apprenticeship?

The best thing about completing my apprenticeship was that I secured a full-time job with Gilbarco Veeder-Root in a very well-established industry. It has allowed me to understand why businesses do certain things and how they are run. I completed both the Level 2 and Level 3 Apprenticeship and now hold qualifications that are relevant to my job role.

How do you think an apprenticeship has benefited your career?

This has benefited me because I had no idea what I wanted to do in regards to a career when I left school. Now I can develop my administration career and go in to office management.

Would you recommend an Apprenticeship? If yes, why?

Yes, I’d recommend this course because it gives the apprentice the opportunity to not only earn money whilst learning but also the qualifications that are relevant to the industry. You also get to see the overall view of how a business runs and what to expect from a full-time job, if you are offered one at the end of the programme.

During his apprenticeship, George achieved the ‘Malcolm Bridges’ Award at the ITEC’s 2015 annual awards ceremony for going the extra mile to attain achievement.

Could this be you? If you want more information on completing an Apprenticeship with ITEC Learning Technologies speak to Toni on 01268 286929 – toni@iteclt.co.uk

George with his team from Gilbarco Veeder-Root celebrating his win at our 2015 awards ceremony

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Yes, it’s that time of the year again when we are planning to recognise and rewards our current stars either on ITEC’s programmes or for supporting learners on their ITEC programmes.

This year our Awards Evening will be held at the Bowers & Pitsea Football Club on Thursday 18th May 2017, 6pm to 9pm. There will be a complimentary buffet available from 6.15pm with the awards ceremony commencing at 7pm. Drinks will be available to purchase from the club bar. We’re also going to set a mini-quiz challenge for each table to enter with a prize for the winners.

Adult Learner of the Year – Awarded for outstanding achievement and effort for over 19 year olds undertaking a part-time course with ITEC (non-apprenticeship courses)

Employer of the Year – Awarded for outstanding development and support of learners at work

Line Manager of the Year – Awarded for outstanding support of learners at work

ITEC Staff Member of the Year – Awarded for providing excellent customer service to learners, staff and employers

Business Admin Apprentice of the Year – Awarded for outstanding achievement by an

apprentice undertaking a Business Administration, Using IT or Customer Service apprenticeship

IT Apprentice of the Year – Awarded for outstanding achievement by an apprentice

undertaking an IT Professional apprenticeship

Social Media Apprentice of the Year – Awarded for outstanding achievement by an

apprentice undertaking the Social Media apprenticeship

CompTIA learner of the Year –A special award recognising the effort and achievement of learners undertaking CompTIA exams as part of their coursework

The ‘Malcolm Bridges’ Award – This award is to recognise the achievement and effort of a learner who has overcome barriers or difficulties or gone the extra mile to achieve the outcomes on his/her course

Do you know a shining star who deserves one of our awards? Nominate them now. Go to:

We are looking for sponsors for our awards so if you would like to see your company name and logo on the winners’ trophies, in our awards brochure, on the finalists’ certificates and in the event write-up in the local press, please contact Kirk or Toni to discuss further on 01268 286929 or email kirk@iteclt.co.uk; toni@iteclt.co.uk

Come along and join us, Thursday 18th May 2017 6pm at the Bowers & Pitsea Football Club, Crown Avenue, Basildon SS13 2BE – See you there!

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ITEC’s Pauline Prior spent a night of fun with her son, daughter and son-in-law at Escape Live Southend. Here, Aaron (son-in-law) takes up the tale…….

Imagine being locked in a strange room and the only way to get out is to enter a key code. A key code that you do not have. A code that you must assemble by solving puzzle after puzzle until you think you have the right one. To make things worse; you have only one hour to do so, or risk being locked in indefinitely. Worse still; imagine being locked in with your in-laws!!

Forget your imagination though, for this has become a reality!

Squeezed between two High Street shops is the doorway to Escape Live Southend. Its inconspicuousness is a sign of things to come. Up the stairs you go and into the reception area to be greeted by the enthusiastic and friendly hosts and games masters. Following a briefing on what lay ahead and a few key ‘do’s and don’ts’, you are led further up the stairs and into ‘Dr. Wilson’s Office’, where you will be spending the majority (if not all) of the next hour trying to get out!

The door is locked, the timer starts and the fun begins. The excitement takes over and in the first few minutes (let’s call it phase one), the scene can only be described as an eclipse of moths in a small lamp shade. Phase two: Everybody is Sherlock Holmes. Phase Three: Teamwork finally begins.

60 minutes quickly becomes 50 minutes; which quickly becomes 40, 30, 20 and then only 10 minutes to go and you have no idea how close or far from escaping you are.

“Give us a clue!” becomes the quote of the day. In fact, make that phase four.

The minutes become seconds and things start to fall into place, but the doubt feeds the adrenaline and clouds the mind. You find the code that you think you need and proceed to enter it to secure your successful escape.

The door opens and the adrenaline and doubt instantly turns to euphoria and relief. We escaped!

Mind you, it’s not like they would keep you locked in there if you failed. Would they??

Escape Live Southend is a great way to start or finish your night out – even with your in-laws!

L-R Pauline, Aaron, Angela and Marc

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Over the last few weeks, several employers have asked us to clarify what their Levy can be spent on. This information is also of use to non-levy paying employers accessing apprenticeships so they can understand what the Government funding is available for.

Funds in the new digital account via the Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS) will initially be for levy paying employers and these employers will start to see their funds appear in their account in May 2017, once the levy is collected from April 2017. Eventually the digital account will be rolled out to all employers and the Government is aiming to do this by 2020.

The funds in Levy-paying employers’ digital accounts, and funding provided by the Government for non-levy paying employers, can only be used towards the cost of apprenticeship training and end point assessment through an externally contracted training provider, such as ITEC, or evidenced costs for direct employer-provider delivery, where the employer is registered with the Government to provide training to their own apprentices.

Registration, materials, examination and certification costs that are required modules or gateways within the Apprenticeship Standards

Planned on-programme assessment and the end point assessment, including costs associated with quality assurance of the assessment and certification

E-learning/distance learning as part of a blended learning programme. The whole apprenticeship cannot be delivered as e-learning but 10-20% is encouraged and, in some standards, required.

Resits for qualifications where further learning has taken place

You cannot use your funding for:-

Recruitment, enrolment, induction, assessment of prior learning, etc., or for setting up the Apprenticeship programme

Apprentices’ wages, accommodation and travel costs

Provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required by the apprentice in their every day work

Purchasing capital equipment

Training, assessment, examinations and certifications of any optional modules not required by the Apprenticeship Standard

Resits of examinations or the End Point Assessment where further learning does not take place

Time spent by employer staff and managers supporting, mentoring, coaching and developing the apprentice

Training delivered solely by distance learning/e-learning

Training, assessment and certification fees for the apprentice to acquire a license to practice

Repeating the same qualification that the apprentice has previously achieved or for any GCSE where the apprentice has achieved Grade C or higher

Other key points to be aware of:-

Apprentices must be employed full-time for a minimum of 30 hours a week and the employer must show they have a true vacancy available, i.e. not just to complete the apprenticeship

The apprenticeship can be a for a new employee or for an existing employee where the individual needs significant new knowledge and skills

The apprentice must complete the apprenticeship, including all training and assessment, within their usual working hours

The minimum duration of an apprenticeship is one year and a day plus the time for end point assessment (approx. 3-5 days)

Apprentices must not be asked to contribute financially to the cost of learning

There must be an Apprenticeship Agreement in place

As specialists in Technology and Business Training, how can ITEC help? We have over 33 years’ experience of providing training programmes in IT Professional or Digital Administration careers for your staff. Our IT Professional Apprenticeships include Microsoft and CompTIA certification and our Digital Business Administration Apprenticeships include specialisms such as Social Media, Using Microsoft Office or Sage Accounts.

Zena Haydon of ATL Transport, ITEC’s Award Winning Apprentice of the Year 2015

Should you need any information or assistance with setting up an apprenticeship placement for a new job role or for one of your existing staff or just want to find out how an apprenticeship with ITEC can help with your workforce development, get in touch. We can help! If we can’t help, we know someone who can! As members of the NOVA Partnership, we have several partners in the South Essex area covering a wide variety of sector skills and working to the same exacting quality standards as ITEC.

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Apprenticeship Funding from 1st May 2017 including the new Apprenticeship Levy – Update November 2016

All Employers will be funded under the new funding regime for their apprentices commencing from 1st May 2017. Any apprentices who commenced prior to this date will continue to be funded through the current system. Apprentices cannot leave the current system and re-start on the new funding system after 1st May unless there are extenuating circumstances.

For Levy-paying Employers, i.e. those with a payroll over £3M, funds will appear in their DAS account from end of May onwards. The first Levy tax will be payable to HMRC from April and Government will top up the funds by 10% each month. Funds in the DAS will expire after 24 months unless spent on apprenticeships and this expiration will be on a first-in, first-out basis.

There are 15 funding bands set by Government, depending on the occupational sector. It doesn’t matter whether the apprentice is undertaking a Frameworks apprenticeship or a new Standard apprenticeship, the funding will be capped in one of these 15 bands. The employer will negotiate a price for their apprentice, depending on the amount of training needed, e.g. a school leaver with no prior experience may be charged at maximum amount whereas a 28-year old with previous experience and knowledge may only need some of the training and will be negotiated at two-thirds of the cap. This will be agreed between the employer and the training provider and a commitment statement and contract will be raised to cover the agreement. Once this is in place and the apprentice commences, funds from the DAS can be paid to the Training Provider.

Non-levy paying employers will be partially funded for their apprentices. They will need to pay 10% to the training provider and the training provider will be able to claim 90% of the funding from the Government. This system will also commence in May 2017 but non-levy paying employers will not be required to use the DAS until 2018. The Government plans to have all apprenticeships paid from the DAS by 2020, using the above system of negotiation and contracts per apprentice/employer.

In the meantime, apprentices with non-levy paying employers will be funded by the Government direct to the Training Provider and the Employer’s 10% cash contribution will also be paid to the Training Provider. So for ITEC employers and apprentices, it will be business as usual.

Extra Support and Incentive payments

The Government has promised payments to help meet the additional costs associated with training young apprentices so all employers will receive an incentive payment when they employ a 16-18 year old apprentice, or a 19-24 year old with an Education and Healthcare Plan provided by local authority or has been in the care of the local authority. There will be an incentive payment of £1000 available for the employer for training an apprentice in this category. Training Providers will also get £1000 towards the cost of training these young employees.

Funding will be available for English and Maths training where the apprentice does not have the required minimum standard and needs to undertake an English and/or Maths course. These payments will be made to the training provider.

The funding for Framework apprenticeships has been significantly reduced to encourage the growth of new Standards apprenticeships. During the transition period, Government has agreed to increase the framework funding by 20% for 16-18 year old apprentices or 19-24 year olds with an Education and Healthcare Plan provided by local authority or has been in the care of the local authority. There will also be some disadvantage uplift funding available to support apprentices from areas of deprivation.

How can we help?

ITEC has been running training programmes for young people and local employers since 1984 and has trained 1000’s of young people from the Basildon district. Many of our past learners have gone on to achieve fantastic careers and some are employing and training today’s apprentices! Whether you are a levy-paying employer or a non-levy paying employer, we have apprenticeship programme options to suit your needs. Specialising in ICT, Digital Administration (administrative roles with computer use) and Social Media, we can offer BCS, Microsoft and CompTIA professional qualifications as part of the programme. We are here to help and can assist you with getting the best out of the new apprenticeship funding system to meet your business objectives.

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Ryan has just completed his Advanced Apprenticeship with ITEC and is an ICT technical professional working with a local employer.

Ryan has considered taking part in the London to Brighton bike ride a couple of times but has been put off by the crowds of people on the start and finish lines making it difficult to get going followed by the difficulty of getting back home from Brighton. So in early summer 2016, when he and his brother were once again considering entering the run, they decided to create their own challenge.

Ryan says “We decided to increase the challenge and ride over 100 miles to Norwich, double the distance to Brighton. We only had a few weeks to train as we hadn’t cycled much over the past 12 months and we missed a lot of training days because of bad weather, so we knew we had a difficult time ahead. We were also doing the ride on mountain bikes which certainly added to the physical challenge on the day.”It was important to us that we supported a local cause and our chosen charity was South Essex Wildlife Hospital in Grays, who rescue and rehabilitate Britain’s wild animals. We chose SEWH for the following reasons:

We care about animal welfare.

South Essex Wildlife Hospital is a Charity, NOT a business.

It is run by volunteers who care about the animals.

No injured or sick animal is turned away. This means they do not euthanize animals simply because they do not return profit.

South Essex Wildlife Hospital relies entirely on donations.

Our donation from our supporters, who include ITEC, will go towards:

Treating injured animals

Rehabilitating animals

Buying equipment, food and other essentials

Ryan present the donations to South Essex Wildlife Hospital

How did it feel?

Ryan says “Leading up to the ride we were mostly excited, although we were a little concerned as it got closer and closer because we knew we had not done much training. In the two weeks leading up to the rider we were frantically buying bike accessories on eBay,, such as storage bottles and frame pannier bags, to use to carry essential tools, food, vacuum-packed clothes and battery packs.
We were checking on the weather stats for the weekend and they seemed to be getting progressively worse with suspected thunder showers!”

Their bikes were pre-packed and ready to go by the night before so on the morning of the ride they were up at the crack of dawn, had a wholesome breakfast and set off towards Norwich at about 6:30am, to make the best use of the daylight. After 9 hours of cycling and a pit stop or two for food and water, plus a longer one for a puncture repair (as well as a couple of stops for admiring the scenery and taking a photo or two), they finally arrived at their hotel in Norwich some thirteen and a half hours later.

A photo opportunity of the lovely villages they passed through on their ride

Ryan continues “The first 30 miles really seemed to fly by but the journey was mostly uphill and we definitely started noticing it in our legs after the halfway mark. We even had a thundershower following us for about an hour that did eventually catch us up to ensure we got a soaking! The hills were getting progressively harder as we approached the last 40 miles and, at this point, it seemed the miles were ticking by very slowly but knowing people had donated to the cause kept us motivated.”

Ryan summarises “Overall, it was great fun and we did have a really interesting and challenging ride. We were mostly in the middle of nowhere going through fields and forest paths and we did see some lovely quaint villages that we wouldn’t normally get to see”.

So what next for our intrepid apprentice?

Ryan jokes “Next time we will have to up the ante and ride a lot further, maybe to Snowdon in Wales or from East to West coast! I have set myself some interesting, and exhausting, physical challenges this year. In September I took part in the Nuclear Blackout Obstacle course race, which is 5K laps of running, crawling, various obstacles, swimming, etc., within a 2-hour time limit in the dark, lit only by competitors’ head torches! I lived to tell the tale! In November I plan to take part in the Nuclear Fallout event, which will be a 12K race through similar terrain but in freezing temperatures, where hypothermia is a potential risk. What am I thinking?!”

Ryan is an excellent role model for today’s new apprentices. He’s busy holding down a full time job, while completing his apprenticeship and while taking on his personal challenges to raise money for charity. Well done, Ryan, we are so proud of you!